To prevent diabetic retinopathy, it is very important to keep your blood sugar levels under careful control.
You should also keep your blood pressure as close to normal as possible.
Blood sugar levels
In home testing, blood sugar levels are usually measured in millimoles of glucose per litre of blood, or mmol/l. A millimole is a measurement of the concentration of glucose in your blood.
Blood glucose levels vary from person to person and the amount of glucose in your blood will change throughout the day. Therefore, there is no such thing as an "ideal" blood glucose level.
However, a normal blood glucose level is 4–6 mmol/l before meals (preprandial) and less than 10 mmol/l two hours after meals (postprandial). Your diabetes care team will be able to discuss your blood glucose level with you in more detail.
Read more about testing your glucose levels.
High blood pressure
Having high blood pressure can make the blood vessels in your eyes more susceptible to damage and increases your risk of developing advanced diabetic retinopathy.
The most effective way of preventing high blood pressure is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, including plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day).
You should also exercise regularly, and do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity.
Giving up smoking, if you smoke, will also help lower your blood pressure because smoking increases blood pressure.
Drinking alcohol can also increase your blood pressure, so stick to the recommended limits. These are no more than 3–4 units of alcohol a day for men and no more than 2–3 units for women.
One unit of alcohol is roughly equivalent to half a pint of normal strength beer, a small glass of wine or a single measure (25ml) of spirits.
Regular screening
If you have diabetes, it is very important that you attend your annual diabetic retinopathy screening appointment. The earlier that retinopathy is detected, the greater the chances of effectively treating it and preventing it from progressing.
Read more about the National Screening Programme for Diabetic Retinopathy.
